LA PLATA, Md. (May 21, 2008)—The Charles County Commissioners unanimously approved the Constant Yield Tax Rate and the General Fund Operating Budgets during their regular session on Tuesday, May 20. The Constant Yield Tax Rate, which is currently at $1.026 per $100 of assessed value, will remain unchanged for Fiscal Year 2009, which begins July 1, 2008.

The Commissioners also unanimously approved the following budgets during their session:

"It is imperative that everyone understands the importance of the decisions that we have made as Commissioners," said Commissioners President Wayne Cooper. "This is a critical time in the history of Charles County and we all share in the belt tightening. We all must work together to make hard decisions where needed, but we must never make them on the backs of our citizens."

"It was a very long process that weighed heavily on me due to the current fragile economic status of the State and County," said Commissioners' Vice President Edith J. Patterson. "I know the foreclosure rate has put many families in transition and the overall economy has been fueled with uncertainty. I supported this budget with a feeling of what is best for all Charles County residents."

"We made our final budget decision based on the comments and views of the citizens," said Commissioner Reuben B. Collins, II. "We all know these are difficult times, but we wanted to present a responsible and lean budget. The budget we proposed today allows us the ability to operate and not reduce County services.

Every citizen, including us, is struggling to pay bills. The last thing we wanted to do was to raise taxes. With the escalating costs of gasoline, food, and the other necessities of life, we wanted our budget to reflect that there would be no reduction in services to our citizens, said Commissioner Samuel N. Graves, Jr.

"This is a fair, balanced, and responsible budget that will not please everyone, but which responds to the fiscal realities that we are facing," said Commissioner Gary V. Hodge.